The Girl Before: A Novel

Reeling from a traumatic break-in, Emma wants a new place to live. But none of the apartments she sees are affordable or feel safe. Until One Folgate Street. The house is an architectural masterpiece: a minimalist design of pale stone, plate glass, and soaring ceilings. But there are rules. The enigmatic architect who designed the house retains full control: no books, no throw pillows, no photos or clutter or personal effects of any kind. The space is intended to transform its occupant - and it does.

A single mother turns up dead at the bottom of the river that runs through town. Earlier in the summer, a vulnerable teenage girl met the same fate. They are not the first women lost to these dark waters, but their deaths disturb the river and its history, dredging up secrets long submerged. Left behind is a lonely 15-year-old girl. Parentless and friendless, she now finds herself in the care of her mother's sister, a fearful stranger who has been dragged back to the place she deliberately ran from - a place to which she vowed she'd never return.

The Couple Next Door: A Novel

Anne and Marco Conti seem to have it all - a loving relationship, a wonderful home, and their beautiful baby, Cora. But one night when they are at a dinner party next door, a terrible crime is committed. Suspicion immediately focuses on the parents. But the truth is a much more complicated story.

Liar

How far would you go to protect your family? Single dad Ben is doing his best to raise his children, with the help of his devoted mother, Judi. And then Ben meets Amber. Everyone thinks this is a perfect match for Ben, but Judi isn't so sure.... There's just something about Amber that doesn't add up. Ben can't see why his mother dislikes his new girlfriend. And Amber doesn't want Judi anywhere near her new family. Amber just wants Ben and the children.

The Breakdown

Cass is having a hard time since the night she saw the car in the woods, on the winding rural road, in the middle of a downpour, with the woman sitting inside - the woman who was killed. She's been trying to put the crime out of her mind; what could she have done, really? It's a dangerous road to be on in the middle of a storm. Her husband would be furious if he knew she'd broken her promise not to take that shortcut home. And she probably would only have been hurt herself if she'd stopped.

My Husband's Wife: A Novel

For fans of Big Little Lies and The Couple Next Door comes an addictive psychological thriller that's already an international sensation. When young lawyer Lily marries Ed, she's determined to make a fresh start. To leave the secrets of the past behind. But then she takes on her first murder case and meets Joe. A convicted murderer whom Lily is strangely drawn to. For whom she will soon be willing to risk almost anything.

The Silent Wife

Lara's life looks perfect on the surface. Gorgeous doting husband Massimo, sweet little son Sandro and the perfect home. Lara knows something about Massimo. Something she can't tell anyone else or everything Massimo has worked so hard for will be destroyed: his job, their reputation, their son. This secret is keeping Lara a prisoner in her marriage. Maggie is married to Massimo's brother Nico. She knows all of Nico's darkest secrets - or so she thinks. The one day she discovers a letter in the attic....

Luckiest Girl Alive: A Novel

Ani FaNelli seems to have it all: a glamorous job at a glossy magazine, an enviable figure with the wardrobe to match, and a handsome fiancé from a distinguished blue-blood family. But Ani FaNelli is an invention, that veneer of perfection carefully assembled in an attempt to distance herself from a shocking, sordid past.

Behind Her Eyes: A Novel

Louise is a single mom, a secretary, stuck in a modern-day rut. On a rare night out, she meets a man in a bar, and sparks fly. Though he leaves after they kiss, she's thrilled she finally connected with someone. When Louise arrives at work on Monday, she meets her new boss, David. The man from the bar. The very married man from the bar...who says the kiss was a terrible mistake but who still can't keep his eyes off Louise.

The Secrets She Keeps: A Novel

Agatha is pregnant and works part time stocking shelves at a grocery store in a ritzy London suburb, counting down the days until her baby is due. As the hours of her shifts creep by in increasing discomfort, the one thing she looks forward to at work is catching a glimpse of Meghan, the effortlessly chic customer whose elegant lifestyle dazzles her. Meghan has it all: two perfect children, a handsome husband, a happy marriage, and a stylish group of friends, and she writes perfectly droll confessional posts on her popular parenting blog.

The Widower's Wife

Ana Bacon, a beautiful young wife and mother, tumbled off a cruise ship into dark and deadly waters. Ana is gone - leaving behind her wealthy husband and adorable daughter - but not everything about her disappearance adds up. What secrets did she leave behind? Investigator Ryan Monahan is a numbers man. So when his company sends him the Bacon case, which could net a 10 million-dollar payout, Monahan doubts that her death is just a tragic accident.

The Marriage Lie

Iris and Will have been married for seven years, and their marriage is as close to perfect as it can be. But on the morning Will leaves for a business trip to Florida, Iris' happy world comes to an abrupt halt. Another plane headed for Seattle has crashed into a field, killing everyone on board, and, according to the airline, Will was one of the passengers. Grief stricken and confused, Iris is convinced it all must be a huge misunderstanding. Why did Will lie about where he was going? What is in Seattle? And what else had he lied about?

The Woman in Cabin 10

Lo Blacklock, a journalist who writes for a travel magazine, has just been given the assignment of a lifetime: a week on a luxury cruise with only a handful of cabins. The sky is clear, the waters calm, and the veneered, select guests jovial as the exclusive cruise ship, the Aurora, begins her voyage in the picturesque North Sea. At first Lo's stay is nothing but pleasant: The cabins are plush, the dinner parties are sparkling, and the guests are elegant. But as the week wears on, frigid winds whip the deck, and gray skies fall.

Behind Closed Doors

Everyone knows a couple like Jack and Grace. He has looks and wealth; she has charm and elegance. He's a dedicated attorney who has never lost a case; she is a flawless homemaker, a masterful gardener and cook, and dotes on her disabled younger sister. Though they are still newlyweds, they seem to have it all. You might not want to like them, but you do. You're hopelessly charmed by the ease and comfort of their home, by the graciousness of the dinner parties they throw. You’d like to get to know Grace better.

All the Missing Girls: A Novel

It's been 10 years since Nicolette Farrell left her rural hometown after her best friend, Corinne, disappeared from Cooley Ridge without a trace. Back again to tie up loose ends and care for her ailing father, Nic is soon plunged into a shocking drama that reawakens Corinne's case and breaks open old wounds long since stitched. The decade-old investigation focused on Nic; her brother, Daniel; her boyfriend, Tyler; and Corinne's boyfriend, Jackson. Since then only Nic has left Cooley Ridge.

Stillhouse Lake

With her ex now in prison, Gwen has finally found refuge in a new home on remote Stillhouse Lake. Though still the target of stalkers and Internet trolls who think she had something to do with her husband's crimes, Gwen dares to think her kids can finally grow up in peace. But just when she's starting to feel at ease in her new identity, a body turns up in the lake - and threatening letters start arriving from an all-too-familiar address.

Before I Go to Sleep: A Novel

"As I sleep, my mind will erase everything I did today. I will wake up tomorrow as I did this morning. Thinking I'm still a child. Thinking I have a whole lifetime of choice ahead of me...." Memories define us. So what if you lost yours every time you went to sleep? Your name, your identity, your past, even the people you love - all forgotten overnight. And the one person you trust may be telling you only half the story. Welcome to Christine's life.

The Lying Game: A Novel

On a cool June morning, Isa Wilde, a resident of the seemingly idyllic coastal village of Salten, is walking her dog along a tidal estuary. Before she can stop him, Isa's dog charges into the water to retrieve what first appears to be a wayward stick - and to her horror, Isa discovers it's not a stick at all...but a human bone. As her three best friends from childhood converge in Salten to comfort a seriously shaken-up Isa, terrifying discoveries are made, and their collective history slowly unravels.

In a Dark, Dark Wood

Leonora, known to some as Lee and others as Nora, is a reclusive crime writer, unwilling to leave her nest of an apartment unless it is absolutely necessary. When a friend she hasn't seen or spoken to in years unexpectedly invites Nora (Lee) to a weekend away in an eerie glass house deep in the English countryside, she reluctantly agrees to make the trip.

I See You

Every morning and evening, Zoe Walker takes the same route to the train station, waits at a certain place on the platform, finds her favorite spot in the car, never suspecting that someone is watching her. It all starts with a classified ad. During her commute home one night, while glancing through her local paper, Zoe sees her own face staring back at her - a grainy photo along with a phone number and a listing for a website called FindTheOne.com.

Girl Last Seen

I force myself to look at the face in the photo, into her slightly smudged features, and I can't bring myself to move. Olivia Shaw could be my mirror image, rewound to 13 years ago. I've spent a long time peering into the faces of girls on missing posters, wondering which one replaced me in that basement. But they were never quite the right age, with the right look, in the right circumstances. Until Olivia Shaw, missing for one week tomorrow.

The Memory Box

In this gripping psychological thriller, a group of privileged suburban moms amuse themselves by googling everyone in town, digging up dirt to fuel thorny gossip. Caroline Thompson, devoted mother of two, sticks to the moral high ground and attempts to avoid these women. She's relieved to hear her name appears only three times, citing her philanthropy. Despite being grateful that she has nothing to hide, a delayed pang of insecurity prods Caroline to google her maiden name - which none of the others know.

Every Last Lie

Clara Solberg's world shatters when her husband and their four-year-old daughter are in a car crash, killing Nick while Maisie is remarkably unharmed. The crash is ruled an accident - until the coming days, when Maisie starts having night terrors that make Clara question what really happened on that fateful afternoon. Tormented by grief and her obsession that Nick's death was far more than just an accident, Clara is plunged into a desperate hunt for the truth.

These Things Hidden

Once the golden child of tiny Linden Falls, Iowa, Allison Glenn watches her reputation crumble as she is sent to prison for five years—convicted of a terrible crime. But what really happened that fateful night? Allison’s younger sister is the only other person who knows the truth. Now out of prison, Allison is more desperate than ever to set the record straight, but the revelation of the truth could have far-reaching consequences.

Publisher's Summary

A chilling psychological thriller about a marriage, a way of life, and how far one woman will go to keep what is rightfully hers....

Jodi and Todd are at a bad place in their marriage. Much is at stake, including the affluent life they lead in their beautiful waterfront condo in Chicago, as she, the killer, and he, the victim, rush haplessly toward the main event. He is a committed cheater; she lives and breathes denial. He exists in dual worlds; she likes to settle scores. He decides to play for keeps; she has nothing left to lose. Told in alternating voices, The Silent Wife is about a marriage in the throes of dissolution, a couple headed for catastrophe, concessions that can’t be made, and promises that won’t be kept. Expertly plotted and reminiscent of Gone Girl and These Things Hidden, The Silent Wife ensnares the listener from its opening lines and never lets go.

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I was excited to listen to this audiobook because it was compared to one of my favorite books, Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. Overall, I was dissappointed in the book and honestly wished I would have chosen something else.

What was most disappointing about A. S. A. Harrison’s story?

*Spoiler Alert*

The story just wasn't that interesting or engaging in my opinion. A husband cheats on his wife with a younger woman. He leaves his wife for her and wants to keep all of his money and assets. Then his betrayed wife wants to kill him. Wow...Never heard that before... There were also some holes in the story that bothered me... For example, one of Jodi's good friends tells her that she will help arrange to have her husband killed, but just ends up stealing money from her and never speaks to Jodi again?? There has to be more to the story there right?? Not in this book apparently.

Which character – as performed by Karen White and Donald Corren – was your favorite?

Even though I didn't love the book, I thought the narrators performances were solid. I loved the vulnerablity Karen White showed in her charater. It was great. Donald Corren was also very good. I hated this character in the book, but Donald Corren helped me enjoy depising him.

Was The Silent Wife worth the listening time?

I wouldn't mind having those 8 hours back for a more interesting story...

I was extremely fascinating by Audible's description of the book... I had seen it (somewhere) compared to "Gone Girl." Not quite. It wasn't nearly as suspenseful or layered. Also, Audible described her as a "killer," when, in fact, she doesn't become at all dangerous until the end of the storyline. It was a good read-- but as much emotional drama as suspense/intrigue. There was a good foundation to the story, but I wasn't at all satisfied with the climax & denouement.

Also, the male NARRATOR was annoying. While listening on Bluetooth, I could hear him make a clicking sound as if he had a very dry mouth. It was nasty & annoying. And.... is it necessary for them to always read the speakers' names constantly during dialogue without tags? The characters would give very short responses, but they continued to read the names. For example:FRED: Hello, Bob.BOB: Hi, Fred.FRED: How are you?BOB: I'm fine, and you?FRED: Good. How's your wife?BOB: She's wonderful.

The narrators would read the "Fred" and "Bob" with such enunciation that it was distracting from the extremely short dialogue. I guess it's more noticeable here than other books because 1) the responses are so short 2) Usually it is written with "tags" such as "Fred replied" or "Bob responded."

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

My Book Club chose this book for the month of October. I decided to buy the audio book so I could listen while commuting. I was painful to listen to. The female voice sounded like a pre-recorded computer voice. Because of this I did not enjoy the book, and only half listened while doing other things. I only finished it because it was part of the book club, if I was listening on my own...I would have stopped about 1/4 of the way through.Didn't seem to be a thriller. Mostly predictable.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Different readers, better direction.

Would you be willing to try another one of Karen White and Donald Corren ’s performances?

No

Could you see The Silent Wife being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

Unlike GONE GIRL, which is one of the best I've heard in the last year, this portrait of two selfish people has no suspense, likeable charachters, zero passion and a bland ending. Psychobable about why a woman is boring......that's it. Narrators were great, but they didn't have much to work with. Overall, depressing and forgettble.

Has The Silent Wife turned you off from other books in this genre?

I'll do a lot more research before I get another one.

What about Karen White and Donald Corren ’s performance did you like?

First rate voices who helped make the story more interesting than it really was.

What character would you cut from The Silent Wife?

Allison, the best friend....who just vanishes, anyway.

Any additional comments?

This is no GONE GIRL. If it was this summer's "beach read" a lot of people must have left the beach depressed. Author writes well, structurally, but doesn't have an interesting story tell.

I enjoyed much of the narrative, as the author's use of words and descriptions were very succinct, yet beautifully phrased without overkill. This story line lacked depth, answers and ended leaving me thinking my download was incomplete.

I'm not sure why reviewers and publicist alike are comparing this book with Gone Girl. I think the comparisons are creating less favorable reviews for The Silent Wife, because expectations aren't fulfilled. It's a good story on its own. I had to listen at 1.25 speed due to the slowness of Karen White's narration (it was torture at regular speed). A good listen overall at the increased speed.

This book had been hailed as the next "Gone Girl". Well, it's not. It is about a husband a wife with a troubled relationship and uses the same format where each chapter is narrated by either the husband or wife. However, this book lacked the pace and grip of Gone Girl. I found the characters to be a bit pathetic and, while the story did keep me wondering and waiting for the big plot twist, it unfortunately ended with a whimper, not a bang.